16 schools, 450 kids participate in today's speech and debate tourney

CANFIELD

As this year progresses, should the nation do more to address environmental issues, re-examine its attitudes toward Islam and be more proactive in handling the refugee crisis in the Middle East?

Those were the key questions Garrett McGinty tried to tackle in detail in a matter of minutes.

“I gave two speeches – one on gay marriage and the other on foreign policy,” the Austintown Fitch High School senior said. He was referring to the challenge he faced while taking part in the Canfield Speech & Debate Tournament Saturday at Canfield High School.

The Kiwanis Club of Western Mahoning County sponsored the two-day competition, which kicked off Friday and also took place at Canfield Village Middle School.

An estimated 450 students from 16 area high schools, as well as one each from Solon and the Pittsburgh area, participated in the tournament. Among the 12 events were public speaking, acting in one- and two-person plays and debating a variety of topics, noted Jeremy Hamilton, director of Canfield High’s speech and debate team.

Read more about the event in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.